Tube support arrangement



NOV. 22, EVANS TUBE SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 1, 1964 I; I; M!

INVENTOR. Anhur L. Evans ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,286,767 TUBESUPPORT ARRANGEMENT Arthur L. Evans, Massillon, Ohio, assignor to TheBabcoclr & Wilcox Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New JerseyFiled Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 400,736 4 Claims. (Cl. 165-82) Thisinvention relates to a tube support arrangement for use in a heatexchanger tube bundle and more particularly to a tube support and spacerfor use in a tube bundle comprising a plurality of nested helical tubecoils wherein the tube support arrangement provides support for thetubes both in a horizontal and in a vertical direction while permittingrelative differential expansion between adjacent coils of tubes.

Heat exchangers incorporating a plurality of tubes arranged as a tubebundle therein are widely used in heat transfer systems. Many such heatexchanger tube bundle arrangements are provided with combination spacersand supports which align, space, and support the tubes within the bundlewhile permitting differential thermal expansion to occur. However, mosttube supports of'the prior art function only when the heat exchangerassembly is in its intended operating position. Thus, with a heatexchanger intended to operate in a vertical position, the tube supportand spacer arrangement is designed and arranged to support and space thetubes when the heat exchanger is in the vertical position only, but notwhen it is in horizontal position. It is common practice to shopassemble apparatus whenever possible, and to ship the assembledapparatus to the erection site as complete unitary components tominimize cost and maximize quality of the product. Tubular heatexchangers are in this category and this apparatus has customarily beenshop assembled for shipment via standard methods of transportation tothe erection site. Thus, because of right of way clearance limits it isoften necessary to transport a heat exchanger lying on its side, i.e.,horizontal, even though it is later to be vertically disposed. In thiscircumstance the tube spacers, installed in the shop to support andalign the tube bundles in the vertical operating position, are notfunctioning during the time the heat exchanger is in the horizontalposition. As a result, it has been necessary to pro vide supplementaryspacers and supports for the shipment horizontally of such vertical heatexchanger apparatus to prevent undesirable shifting of the tube bundlesduring shipment and to minimize vibrations which may damage thestructure. Since the tube supports and spacers used for shipment aresupplemental to those used in normal operation they add to the cost ofthe unit since they must either be left in the unit or be removed at theerection site, with either procedure resulting in added expense.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tubesupport and spacer arrangement which will support and space the tubes ofa heat exchanger both vertically and horizontally so as to obviate theabove-mentioned disadvantages. In the support arrangement of the presentinvention each tube support supports and spaces a row of tubes withinthe tube bundle while at the same time guiding and supporting the nextadjacent tube support, irrespective of whether the heat exchanger unitis in a vertical or a horizontal position. With this arrangement, it ispossible to ship a heat exchanger, intended for ultimate dispositionvertically, in a horizontal position without the necessity of utilizingadditional tube spacers and supports, since the support structure willprevent vibration of the tubes during shipment and will maintain thespacing of the tube assembly. At the same time, tube supports of thepresent invention permit differential thermal expansion of the severalrows of tubes within the tube bundle during normal operating conditions.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a tube support arrangementin a heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced parallel tubes arrangedas a tube bundle wherein the tube support comprises a first memberextending transversely of a first row of tubes and arranged to projectbetween adjacent tubes to space the tubes in that row, with a clampingor retaining means positioned on the opposite side of the tubes from thefirst member and cooperating with the member to maintain the tubespacing while at the same time forming a guide channel, and a secondmember disposed in the guide channel and extending substantiallyparallel to the first member and projecting between adjacent tubes in asecond row of tubes adjacent to the first row of tubes.

The first member of the tube support may be slotted to accept the row oftubes while the clamping member includes a pair 'of clamping barsdisposed one on each side of the portion of the slotted member whichextends between the tubes so that the two clamping bars and the firstmember form a guide slot in which the second member is disposed.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages andspecific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vertically arranged heatexchanger incorporating the tube spacers of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged vertical sectional detail of a pluralityof spacers of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the spacer arrangement taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the spacer arrangement taken along line 4-4 of FIG.2.

A vertical heat exchanger 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises apressure vessel 12 having a plurality of tubes 14 arranged therein as atube bundle. The tubes are supported from a support member 16 positionedin the upper portion of the pressure vessel by the support and spacerassembly 18 0f the present invention. In the heat exchanger arrangementillustrated the tubes are arranged in a plurality of concentric coils.The tubes are appropriately connected to headers, not shown, for thesupply of suitable heat transfer fluid in a manner well known in theart. f

Referring now to FIG. 2, an enlarged detail of a portion of the tubesupport and spacer assembly 18 of the present invention is illustrated,showing the support as applied to three uniformly spaced rows of tubes14. The assembly 18 comprises a first member 20 which is a bar memberhaving a straight first edge 21 and a scalloped or slotted opposite edge23 which is arranged to provide the desired spacing between the tubes 14in the first row. The scalloped or slotted edge 23 of the first member20 has an elongated portion 22 which extends between adacent tubes 14 topositively space the tubes from each other. A clamping means comprisinga pair of clamping bars 24 are positioned on the opposite side of thefirst row of tubes from the first member 20 and are disposed on oppositesides of the portion 22 which extends between the tubes 14 as may bereadily seen in FIGS. 3

and 4. These clamping bars 24 are secured, as by welds 25, to theprojecting portions 22 of the first member 20 after the tubes 14 havebeen positioned in the first member and cooperate with the first memberin maintaining the desired tube spacing. The clamping bars 24 may have afirst edge slotted or scalloped as at 27 to fit around the tubes 14 inthe first row and a second or opposite edge 28 which extends beyond theprojecting portions 22 of the first member and cooperate therewith toform a guide slot extending the full length of the row of tubes. Asecond member 20A, similar to the first member 20, is arranged incorresponding relationship with a second row of tubes 14A, the axis ofwhich is substantially parallel to the axis of the first row of tubes,and is guided and aligned by the guide channel formed between theclamping bars 24 connected to the first member 20. This arrangement issimilarly repeated for each row of tubes across the heat exchanger,i.e., tubes 14B, etc. The several support members 20, 20A and 20B, aresecured to and suspended from the upper support 16 in the pressurevessel with the tubes of the heat exchanger supported by members 20. Thesupport members on the outermost edges of the tube bundle may be guidedin a suitable manner by guides 29 provided on the inner surface of thepressure vessel wall 30.

With the support structure of the present invention, each row of tubesis both positively supported and aligned while at the same time theindividual tubes of a row are permitted to expand differentially withrespect to each other by moving through the supports in a directionperpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2. At the same time the entire row oftubes may expand in a vertifical direction with the support memberssliding therewith. Inasmuch as adjacent rows of tubes are not integrallyconnected to the other rows of tubes, each row may also expand in avertical direction independently of adjacent rows with the supportmember 20A sliding within the slot formed between the clamping bars 24of the first row. At the same time the support arrangement for thesecond row of tubes is positively aligned by this guide channel. It isreadily apparent that should the heat exchanger arrangement illustratedbe placed in a horizontal position, the support arrangement will stillprovide the necessary support and relative tube spacing for the tubebundle since each support member will guide and support the nextadjacent support member by means of the guide channel while at the sametime providing the necessary support and rigidity to prevent damage tothe tube bundle.

It will thus be seen that the present tube support arrangement providespositive support and alignment of the tubes within a heat exchangerwhile permitting differential expansion regardless of whether the heatexchanger is in a vertical or horizontal position, simplifyingmaintenance, installation, and shipment of such units.

Furthermore, in a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of concentriccoilea tubes, the support structure of the present invention willprovide support across the entire diameter of the tube bundle andthroughout the entire length thereof. Also, if desired, additionalsupports may be utilized in various other diametral planes of the tubebundle in addition to that illustrated.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes there isillustrated and described herein a specific embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made in theform of the invention covered by the claims, and that certain featuresof the invention may sometimes be used to advantage without acorresponding use of the other features.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced substantiallyparallel tubes arranged as a tube bundle, a tube support arrangementcomprising a first member extending transversely of a first row of tubeson one side thereof and having a portion projecting between adjacenttubes in said first row to define openings wherein the tubes of saidfirst row are confined, clamping means positioned on the opposite sideof the tubes of said first row from said first member, said clampingmeans being connected with and cooperating with said first member tomaintain the tubes of said first row in said openings, a second memberin alignment with said first member and extending transversely of asecond row of tubes which are substantially parallel to said first rowof tubes, said second member having a portion projecting betweenadjacent tubes in said second row to define openings wherein the tubesof said second row are confined, said clamping means being engaged withand arranged to align and guide said second member.

2. In a heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced substantiallyparallel tubes arranged as a tube bundle, a tube support arrangementcomprising a first member extending transversely of a first row of tubeson one side thereof and having a portion projecting between adjacenttubes in said first row to define openings wherein the tubes of saidfirst row are confined, a pair of clamping bars arranged on the oppositeside of said tubes and extending transversely of said tubes, saidclamping bars being connected with said first member and disposed onopposite sides of said projecting portion of said member to maintain thetubes of said first row in said spaces, said clamping bars cooperatingwith the projecting portion of said first member to form a guide channelextending transversely of said first row of tubes, and a second memberdisposed in said guide channel and extending transversely of a secondrow of tubes which are substantially parallel to said first row oftubes, said second member being arranged to project between adjacenttubes in said second row to define openings wherein the tubes of saidsecond row are confined.

3. In a heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced substantiallyparallel tubes arranged as a tube bundle, a tube support arrangementcomprising a first slotted member extending transversely of a first rowof tubes on one side thereof and having portions thereof projectingbetween adjacent tubes in said first row to define openings wherein thetubes of said first row are confined, a pair of slotted clamping barsarranged on the opposite 'side of said tubes and extending transverselyof said tubes and parallel with said first slotted member, said clampingbars being connected with said first slotted member and disposed onopposite sides of said projecting portions of said first slotted memberto maintain said tubes in said slots, said clamping bars cooperatingwith the projecting portions of said first member to form a guidechannel extending transversely of said first row of tubes on theopposite side of said first row of tubes from said first member and, asecond slotted member disposed slidably within said guide channel andextending transversely of a second row of tubes which are substantiallyparallel to said first row of tubes, said second slotted member beingarranged to project between adjacent tubes in said second row to defineopenings wherein the tubes of said second row are confined.

4. In a vertical heat exchanger having a plurality of spaced coiledsubstantially parallel tubes arranged as a vertical tube bundle therein,a tube support arrangement comprising a first slotted member extendingtransversely of a first vertical row of tubes on one side thereof andhaving portions thereof projecting between adjacent tubes in said firstrow to at least the opposite side thereof to define openings wherein thetubes of said first row are confined, a pair of slotted clamping barsarranged on the opposite side of said tubes and extending transverselyof said tubes and parallel with said first slotted member, said clampingbars being connected with said first slotted member and disposed onopposite sides of said projecting portions of said first slotted memberto maintain said tubes in said slots, said clamping bars cooperatingwith the projecting portion of said first member to form a guide channelextending transversely of said first row of tubes on the op- 6 7 meatsupports and spaces said tubes when said heat ex- 2,980,404 4/1961Andersen et a1. 165-162 X changer is vertical and horizontal. FOREIGNPATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 842,494 6/ 1952 Germany. 2 090345 ZTATES PATENTS 165 82 5 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

8 9 0y 2,328,039 8/1943 Toorney et a1 165162 X Exammer-

1. IN A HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TUBES ARRANGED AS A TUBE BUNDLE, A TUBE SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTCOMPRISING A FIRST MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF A FIRST ROW OF TUBESON ONE SIDE THEREOF HAVING A PORTION PROJECTING BETWEEN ADJACENT TUBESIN SAID FIRST ROW TO DEFINE OPENINGS WHEREIN THE TUBES OF SAID FIRST ROWARE CONFINED, CLAMPING MEANS POSITIONED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THETUBES OF SAID FIRST ROW FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID CLAMPING MEANSBEING CONNECTED WITH AND COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER TO MAINTAINTHE TUBES OF SAID FIRST ROW IN SAID OPENINGS, A SECOND MEMBER INALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF A SECONDROW OF TUBES, SAID SECOND MEMBER HAVING A TO SAID FIRST ROW OF TUBES,SAID SECOND MEMBER HAVING A PORTION PROJECTING BETWEEN ADJACENT TUBES INSAID SECOND ROW TO DEFINE OPENINGS WHEREIN THE TUBES IN SAID SECOND ROWARE CONFINED, SAID CLAMPING MEANS BEING ENGAGED WITH AND ARRANGED TOALIGN AND GUIDE SAID SECOND MEMBER.